Radhika Iyer | HENB | Thrissur (Kerala) | Jul 25, 2018::Various Hindu outfits in Kerala on Wednesday called for a state-wide strike on July 30 (Monday) against the state government’s decision supporting women’s entry inside the Sabarimala temple. The Hindu Orgs are demanding that the state government must rectify its stance in the Supreme Court favouring entry of women of all age groups at the hill shrine of Sabarimala.

The organisations threatened to stop the women at Pamba, the base camp of the pilgrims, if they dare to trek the Sabarimala hills to enter the temple in case of a favourable verdict from the apex court.

The organisations like Ram Sena, Hanuman Sena, Ayyappa Dharma Sena and Vishal Vishwakarma Aikya Vedi, Hindu Existence Forum called for strike after the Kerala government told the court that it supports the entry of women inside the Sabarimala temple.

The hearing of the issue in this regards is underway in the Supreme Court.

To which Parasaran argued that “the right of State to make laws to throw open Hindu Temples to all classes and sections of Hindus does not include women within its scope”.

On July 18, the apex court observed that banning the entry of women in Sabarimala by the temple authorities is unconstitutional.

Top Court Judge DY Chandrachud also said that the right to pray is equal for both men and women.

As per norms prescribed by the temple board, women aged between 10 and 50 are prohibited from visiting the premises.

In January 2016, the court had questioned the ban, saying this could not be done under the Constitution.

In November the same year, the Kerala Government had told the Supreme Court that it was ready to allow women inside the sanctum sanctorum of the temple, a prominent pilgrimage site among Hindu devotees in the state of Kerala.

The hearing in the controversial issue of whether women of menstrual age group should be allowed to enter the temple or not has been on in the apex court for the past few days. The Kerala government led by the CPM has favoured allowing women to enter the temple on account of gender equality as mentioned in the Constitution. Those who oppose the demand cite the customs and traditions of the temple which bar entry of women in the age group of 10-50 citing the belief that the main deity of the temple , Lord Ayyapa, has taken a vow of celibacy.

A section of women had last year came out with a campaign saying they were ready to wait until menopause to visit the temple as they respect the beliefs and customs of the temple.